JFH Staff Review

The Advice is an up-and-coming band that originates from Greenville, South Carolina. Their bubbly, uplifting songs are along the lines of Jason Mraz, Michael Buble, and Jimmy Needham, with traces of indie pop speckled throughout. Last summer, the band released their debut EP on Inpop Records titled The Advice EP. This EP consists of three songs that fit and transition together with ease.

The opening track, "Your Light Shines," opens with guitars and prominent horn playing, bringing about a sense of indie pop and adding a nice touch to the song. "Forever Changed," the second song on the EP, sings about salvation and is a jazzy pop number that sounds similar to something Michael Buble would record. The final song is titled "Your Love Sets Me Free," and is a radio-ready pop song that already has had a good amount of airplay on Christian radio stations. Throughout the EP, the lead and backing vocals are tight, and all the songs fit nicely with Matt, the lead singer's, range and tone. With a laid back feel and foot-tapping grooves, The Advice EP would fit in well as background music for a coffee shop or bookstore.

Lyrically is where The Advice EP is the least impressive. The songs sound like many other Christian artists, written in a fashion that has been used many times before. The structure of their songs brings to mind something that could be found on any number of modern CCM albums. Musically, the added horns are one of their main distinctions between them and other artists currently being played on Christian radio.

While not astounding, The Advice EP is fun and enjoyable to listen to. They definitely have potential and room to grow with their future projects. If they continue to expand on the territory they've started on and become more distinct lyrically and musically, there could be good things to come from The Advice in the future.

- Review date: 4/6/12, written by Cortney Warner of Jesusfreakhideout.com